decoding the boys ✔️

58 | promise

"Those dimwits," Kael mumbled gruffly. "But look at the brighter side. You're free to do whatever shit you wanna do now that they're finally out of your hair."

Napanguso ako. I shifted my phone from my right hand to the left and stared at the face of my cousin on the screen.

"So yeah. 'Yon nga yung nangyari."

Kael tanned a bit for always being under the sun in the past month. I saw his pictures. He'd been hopping around from one beach to the next.

"But we've expected this to happen, haven't we? They haven't really done anything we haven't expected. Predictable blokes, that's what they are." Kael narrowed his eyes. "So do you want me to fly over? I can straighten him up for you."

I shook my head, a small smile spilling on my face. "I'm doing better na so no need. Alam na rin nina Mom yung nangyari. I mean, they phoned me after Kuya Jacob moved out. I had to tell them."

He lifted a brow, asking me to continue.

"Gusto nilang kausapin si Kuya but I asked them not to. Ayokong isipin niya na pinagkakaisahan namin siya. And if we're going to make up, gusto ko out of his own will."

"It sounds like you've got it all made up in your head."

"Maybe," I said tentatively. "No, not really. I'm torn on what I should do. I want to give him time pero nag-aalala ako na baka 'pag pinatagal ko, lalong magkalamat yung relationship namin."

"Don't be daft. That's a petty thing. You don't have to do anything. It's his thick head that needs some shaping. And it's long time coming anyway. They should've seen it from miles away. They can't hide you under their skirts forever. Some time soon, you've got to go out and grow up away from them."

"I suppose you're right."

They were my world before, my entire world. Sure, I've had friends outside of the boys pero sa kanila talaga umiikot ang buhay ko. I lived by their words, by their principles. Bawat utos at hiling ay sinusunod ko. I complained, pero sa simula lang lagi 'yon. I always complied at the end.

Now, things had changed.

Kung nagbago ang relasyon ko sa boys ngayon ay dahil sa 'kin 'yon. Kasi ako ang unang nagbago sa kanila.

"Jacob will come running back to you, I promise. He's wired that way. He's a Zobel. Can't be damn stupid. Just update me from time to time, yeah? I like hearing from you."

"I will." I nodded. "How about you? Kamusta? I vibed Pierre last night. May ka-date ka daw last Tuesday."

He snorted. "Some date it was. Mom forced this girl on me. I had no choice but to deal with it."

"How was the date?"

"Total bullcrap."

Napangisi ako. "Sabi ni Alec you got splashed on daw. Binuhusan ka ng tubig?"

He scowled and didn't answer.

"So totoo nga? Damn. You must've been a real ass."

"I was being real. Told her I don't want her. I thought girls appreciate honesty. Turns out you don't, e?"

Lalo akong tumawa. "We do, but you don't have to be an ass when doing it."

"Yet girls like assholes." He rolled his eyes. "What a contradicting bullshit. Anyway, I'm off. Have you got time tomorrow? Skype me again."

"Sure. After class siguro. See you soon, Kel."

"Damn right, cuz."

The skype call disconnected. I lay back down and stared at the ceiling, absorbing every piece of advice I received over the past few days. Tama sila. I shouldn't stress so much. I should give this time and trust in my relationship with the boys. Malalim din naman ang pinagsamahan namin. Surely it couldn't just break that easily?